Row over NLA's authority can be resolved by court: Wissanu
Play
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Thursday that the dispute over whether the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has the authority to impeach politicians could only be resolved by a Constitutional Court ruling.
Wissanu, who had a hand in writing the 2014 Provisional Constitution, said he realised that this issue could give rise to conflict. He went on to say that he intentionally did not specify NLA’s authority in relation to impeachment cases in the interim charter because it would have required too many Articles, which would have led to more disputes.
“So, I left the problem to other agencies. If any argument occurs, the Constitutional Court will be the one making a final decision,” he said.
The dispute over whether the NLA has the power to impeach politicians rose because this point is not clearly stated in the interim charter. However, a regulation draft that the NLA passed later gives the assembly the power to impeach politicians.
The high-profile politicians targeted for impeachment are former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, former Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranon and former Parliament vice president Nikom Wairatpanich.
Wissanu said it was up to the NLA to decide if it wants to consider the impeachment cases forwarded by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
